Brain Meltdown

I have been struggling to write this post. I was going to have a break this week and I have enjoyed the slower pace. But I suspect most people who are usually on the go 24/7, like me, find a slower pace difficult to adjust to.

Let’s be honest, there are only so many hours of reality TV that can be watched before an element of dissatisfaction creeps in.

The lure of blogging and of finally being able to start processing the crowd of information coursing around my brain has been too hard to resist. So here I am. BTW this is blog post number 500 – not quite the post I intended for this milestone, but that’s the way it goes…

I suppose I better start from the beginning. Last Friday, after I poured my heart out in this post, I took my son to his sixth and final appointment of the week. It was with his dermatologist who was checking out some moles on Gilbert’s skin. Yes, people with albinism can develop moles, even without melanin (I will definitely blog about that as part of my series on demystifying albinism).

Lucky for us, there is nothing to worry about right now but we needed a photo taken to allow for comparison at future appointments. Just after the dermatologist and his assistant left the room to grab a camera I started to feel strange. I knew something wasn’t quite right.

The left side of my mouth lost sensation and started to droop. I panicked – I couldn’t get an articulate word out. My mouth just wouldn’t work. My brain betrayed me too – I couldn’t string the words together anyway. All I could do was gesture wildly towards the door and grunt at Gilbert, desperate for him to understand the urgent need for him to open the door and get help.

He was terrified. He didn’t know what was happening and I couldn’t explain. For the first time I couldn’t be his interpreter – I instead desperately needed him to be mine. His distress only made me more upset as I realised that my whole left side had become heavy so I couldn’t move from my chair. I have never been more scared or distressed or panicked in my life.

The episode lasted only a minute or two – by the time the specialist returned with the camera I was able to speak again and tell him what had happened. I was immediately placed on the examination bed while they asked me questions so they could organise help. At this stage my face had regained sensation but my left arm was tingling. I lost sensation for a minute or so in my left index finger with the rest of my arm prey to pins and needles. My leg was spared although it felt heavy and weak.

I guess I was “back to normal” within 30 minutes of the initial scare, although I felt heavy and weary and not quite right in the left side of my body for a number of hours after that. By the time I arrived at hospital they couldn’t detect any weakness at all in my left side and began to investigate a few reasons for my brain meltdown.

In a nutshell there are four possibilities being considered at present. For other The Block afficionados out there, it’s like my very own Wheel of Misfortune – none of the options are ideal.

1. It could have been a rare sort of migraine that can occur without headache.

2. It could have been a reboot of my epilepsy which can occur in those who have experienced seizures previously, although the symptoms this time were nothing like my past seizures.

3. It could have been a TIA (transient ischemic attack) which is considered to be a mini-stroke where a small clot forms in the brain but dissolves quickly, leaving no lasting effects.

4. It could be linked to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or another condition not yet diagnosed.

I honestly though I was having a stroke. I had seen those ads on TV recently with the woman with the drooping mouth and the fire happening behind the scenes in her brain. I remember laying there while the dermatology staff soothed my terrified boy, organised an ambulance and got in contact with family and realising and accepting that I could very well die.

In that moment, I wasn’t scared for me – I figured the end itself would be quick and total (sorry for the melodrama but that’s what was top of my mind in that moment). But I was terrified for my family. I was already heartbroken at what Gilbert had witnessed and seen that afternoon. He continually asked me if I was still alive and broke out in sobs if I didn’t response to him straight away. His dependence on me is absolute and his fear at losing me was very real and overwhelming.

At the moment I still have no answers. I’m still waiting on an MRI on Friday night and can’t get into the stroke clinic for another month. I’m trying to stay positive but it’s hard. I’m just as scared as Gilbert. I don’t know if I will have any more attacks. I don’t know how serious they are. I don’t know whether I can prevent them in any way. I don’t know how I’ll ever manage going back to normal life.

I don’t know anything at all anymore.

All I can do is wait for the MRI and hope I have some answers soon. As I understand it, it’s a process of elimination and may take some time to resolve. In the meantime, I can’t drive for at least the next two weeks as a precaution and I’ve been put on daily aspirin in case it was a TIA. I’ve also been taken off my normal oral contraceptive pill as this can thicken the blood and lead to an increased chance of clotting which is a factor in a few of the options on my very own Wheel of Misfortune.

I am grateful that my husband is with me – he is my rock and has helped distract and deflect and deter the pressures of life over the last few days. I am thankful I have family on standby ready to help when needed. I am grateful for this rare chance to rest and recover.

I am scared. I am frustrated. I am worried. But I am thankful to still be here and grateful for everything that I have.

Oh Kirsty that must have been so awful for you. Sending so many fairy wishes and butterfly kisses your way lovely. I hope that you get some answers sooner rather than later. I know what you mean about worrying more about how our children will cope with our death than the death itself. thanks so much for taking the time to join in with #thankfulthursdayRhianna recently posted..Thankful for electricity and the lack of it

Oh Kirsty that is so scary, especially the not knowing. I too think it sounds like a stroke and would have thought the same things. I feel for you, especially all the worries you have about your children, as parents the last we want is for our children to be hurt, sad or upset. Hang in there, you have all my thoughts and I do hope you get results soon, the unknown must be very frightening, HUGS xxxEmily @ Have A Laugh On Me recently posted..When I had to be a helicopter mum – Wordless Wednesday.

oh my goodness. I’m so sorry. This is so scary to read. I feel for you having to experience this. And your child having to watch. This is something I have nightmares about, my children seeing me in hospital helpless. I can relate to being the interpreter and being everything for your children, and the fear when that must be turned around. I hope you find some answers soon.

Oh my, what a frightening event. I guess on the bright side at least you were in a doctor’s office! I really hope that the mystery is cleared up soon and that you have no more dramas. xxxJanet @ Middle Aged Mama recently posted..Our Courtyard Makeover

I’ve been thinking about you and sending positive vibes. You’re still here to tell this tale so I’m taking that as a good sign. Such a scary experience for you and your family. I hope you get some answers very soon. Big hugs. xoxoNess recently posted..Box Office Bogan

Oh my goodness, Kirsty! I don’t blame you for being worried. My fingers and toes are crossed that you get news soon and that it is positive. xEva @ The Multitasking Mummy recently posted..You Can Help Disabled Children Play

Sending loads of positive thoughts and well wishes your way Kirsty. Am glad you were close to help when this happened and hope that you get some answers soon…. Take care.. xxZita recently posted..for Wordless Wardrobe Wednesday!

You should be scared and worried (I’d be scared and worried if you weren’t) but as you know, there seems to be a million things that go on in the body that for us, the person involved seem alarming and terrifying, but for the Dr’s, it’s all just ‘oh, that happens’ So I am hoping for you it’s the weird migraine thing. Annoying but least dangerous.
I hope you survive the waiting, and the unknown.
Thinking of you, and good luck. x

Oh Kirsty it must’ve been terrifying especially seeing the fear in Gilbert’s eyes and not being able to console him or talk. It sounds to me like a stroke too. My great grandmother had one and I was at the hospital waiting when she arrived by ambulance and she was still experiencing everything that you are describing. How very lucky that everything returned to normal relatively quickly and at this stage there are no lasting effects in terms of drooping and numbness. I hope they find an answer for you soon to at least elay some of the fear you must be feeling. Hopefully this was just a one off occurrence for you and it will ever happen again.Toni @ Finding Myself Young recently posted..The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice

Oh Kirsty, I can’t imagine how terrifying that must have been. And the waiting for answers is almost as bad sometimes I reckon. There is nothing worse than something bad happening and then not being able to have an answer straight away. I hope they figure things out for you quickly and that the result is good news. xxxKylie Purtell, A Study in Contradictions recently posted..I was a Teenage Choir Nerd

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